Trio earn prestigious Eagle Scout award

Monday

Jan 28, 2013 at 12:01 AM

They have gained membership into an exclusive fraternity, one in which only 3 percent of all Boy Scouts enter.White Pigeon High School seniors Drew Sellers and Eric Anderson, and junior William Roose, were at the center of a Court of Honor ceremony Saturday at the White Pigeon American Legion.

Jef Rietsma

They have gained membership into an exclusive fraternity, one in which only 3 percent of all Boy Scouts enter.White Pigeon High School seniors Drew Sellers and Eric Anderson, and junior William Roose, were at the center of a Court of Honor ceremony Saturday at the White Pigeon American Legion.A part of Troop 419, Sellers, Anderson and Roose are the first members of the White Pigeon troop to earn the Eagle Scout since 2004. A crowd of about 50 family members and friends witnessed the 75-minute ceremony, which was rich with pageantry.Troop 419 Scoutmaster Deron Anderson said like any prestigious honor, Eagle Scout is an award that takes years to obtain and it’s never earned by accident.“It’s a commitment, and these young men showed that in earning the honor,” Anderson said.With Perri Saunders serving as master of ceremonies, the Court of Honor ceremony followed a routine as dictated by the Boy Scouts of America organization. Procedures such as lighting of the scout candles, administering of the Eagle Scout oath and reflections from the recipients were a part of the program.State Sen. Bruce Caswell told the three that earning the award of Eagle Scout is the equivalent of having the foundation of a house solidly in place.“You’ve learned about God, you’ve learned about country and you’ve learned about sacrifice for others,” Caswell said. “As you move forward, each of you will have choices to make and the type of house you build on that foundation; that will be your decision.“Make the right choices and when in doubt … fall back on what you’ve been taught in Boy Scouts, use the wisdom you’ve been given and you’ll never go wrong,” Caswell said.Sellers, Anderson and Roose each received a frame proclamation recognizing their achievements. The resolution was signed by Caswell, State Rep. Matt Lori and Gov. Rick Snyder.Afterward, Caswell said confidence is what sets apart Eagle Scouts from their peers.“Confidence with a strong moral background is what I see in Eagle Scouts,” Caswell said. “They learn from hard work, have the confidence to do things the right way, and follow the rules and commandments of God.”Judy Roose said her son previously was a scout in Constantine, but joined Troop 419 when he started attending White Pigeon Community Schools. She said having fellow Boy Scouts Sellers and Anderson in school helped the transition.“William fit in nicely and it was good for him to have that camaraderie of scout members in school with him,” she said.William Roose said he plans to become a physical therapist, as he is especially interested in aiding athletes and veterans.Anderson said his experience in Boy Scouts has helped him mature and realize the value of focusing less attention on himself and more on other people. He plans to attend Ohio Technical College to become a diesel mechanic.Sellers said he learned through Scouts to better manage his time. The virtue has come in handy when balancing his academic and athletic commitments at school. He would like to pursue a career in athletic training.The three completed their final requirement for Eagle Scout by organizing, soliciting funds and completing a major task. Sellers, who has 23 merit badges, re-landscaped the White Pigeon welcome signs at both ends of the village; Roose, who boasts 21 merit badges, cleaned and re-landscaped Depot Park; and Anderson, who has accumulated 26 merit badges, constructed a sand box at Goshen Christian Montessori School.